HURLEY.COM
C U R R E N
C A P L E S
V E N T U R A
T H E B A L A N C E O F O P P O S I T E S
R V C A . C O M
|
# I N S P I R E D B Y R V C A
ZAK NOYLE/A-FRAME
SETH MONIZ // SITTIN’ PRETTY // DVSSHOES.COM // @DVSSHOES
p: Tal Roberts Mike Gleason
Check out "Life Beyond Walls: Guatemala" featuring the adventures of Mike Gleason & Bear Holeman. www.smithoptics.com/lifebeyondwalls
Pursue your thrill. The Comstock. See deeper with ChromaPop™.
The experience is everything.™
artist • hula randoms • 22 product • 26 ugo rondinone seven magic mountains • 28 francés goodman • 30 can pekdemir • 32 super taste • 36 volcom 2016 tct champs • 38 scott scheidly • 40 luke lutz photo profile • 42 aquafina island paradise • 46 the art of hula • 52 patrick do • 60 basich built • 64 damn am costa mesa volcom • 68 the board club • 70 sylve colless aurelia • 72 vissla dream steeple • 74 pearl charles • 76 music reviews • 77 groms • 80
M HA AH DI N A PAL L AE YX A N D E R S O W
F A M I L Y T A H I T I
R V C A . C O M
P E H R S O N
|
# I N S P I R E D B Y R V C A
T H E B A L A N C E O F O P P O S I T E S
Editor-in-Chief nick kalionzes nick@blisssmag.com
Editor
joey marshall joey@blisssmag.com
Creative DirectoR mark paul deren : madsteez madsteez@madsteez.com
assistant editor delon isaacs delon@blisssmag.com
EDITOR AT LARGE liz rice mcCray liz@blisssmag.com
SNOW EDITOR jon francis jon@blisssmag.com
MUSI C EDITOR max ritter max@blisssmag.com
advertising ads@blisssmag.com
contributing Photographers
Jason Kenworthy, Dominic Petruzzi, Daniel Russo, Toby Ogden, Tom Carey, Brian Beilmann, Jack Coleman, Andrew Mapstone, Adam Moran, Dave Nelson, Pat Eichstaedt, Julien Lecorps, Ryan Boyes, Zach Hooper, Tim Peare, Michael Lallande, Bob Plumb, Peter Morning, Bryce Kanights, Arto Sarri, Anthony Acosta, Cameron Strand, Brian Fick, Deville Nunns, Gage Thompson, Derek Bahn, Tom Cozad, Bruce Beach, Robbie Crawford, Ryan Donahue, Joe Foster, Sean Sullivan, Delon Isaacs
contributors
Willie Marshall, Daniel Russo, Jason Arnold, Greg Escalante, Nathan Spoor, Tom Carey, Travis Millard, David Choe, Kai Garcia, Mickey Neilsen, Peter Townend, Hamilton Endo, Tawnya Schultz, Mike Murciano, Geoff Shively, Casey Holland, Steve Stratton, Robbie Sell, Andrew Miller, Pat Towersey, Raul Montoya, Ian Dodge, Richie Olivares, Eric Meyers, Kelly Shannon, JP Olson, Bruce Beach
JULY 2016 BL!SSS Magazine 413 31st Street Newport Beach, CA 92663 www.blisssmag.com Disclaimer: Although all best efforts are made to avoid the same, we reserve the right to publish unintentional mistakes and/or factual errors which may occur on a monthly basis. No responsibility is assumed by the publishers for unsolicited materials/articles/letters/ advertising and all submissions will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright and/or appropriate licensing purposes subject to Blisss’ right to edit and comment editorially. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine reflect the opinions of their respective authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team. Blisss Magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising matter which may reflect negatively on the integrity of the magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form [print or electronic] without prior written consent from the publisher.
ARTIST • HULA
If your favorite shop isn’t receiving BL!SSS Magazine please contact info@blisssmag.com
@805BEER SEE CALEB OWENS BUILD THE 805 BIKE AND MORE AT 805BEER.COM
2016 REDBULL CAPE FEAR CONTEST
For two whole days we were so rattled and uneasy by this contest. It is by far the heaviest surf event anyone has seen all year, or like a couple of years – shit, maybe even ever. The 2016 Red Bull Cape Fear Contest was the contest that broke social media, as some of the most insane barrels and wipeouts took place at Ours, a slab in Sydney that breaks 20-feet away from the scariest fucking cliff side. Over the course of five heats, three people were sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, which absurdly was kind of remarkable because this contest/wave could have easily killed someone if it really wanted to. By the end of the contest, Russell Bierke, an 18-year-old psychopath, was crowned champ after edging out insane bigwave veterans like Jai and Koby Abbeston, Ryan Hipwood and Dean Morrison. Shout out to Mark Matthews for putting this freak show of a contest on and invoking change and excitement to the sport of big-wave surfing. All hail World Slab League!
LUCAS PREMEIER ADV
Available July 1, Adidas Skateboarding has just revealed the highly anticipated Lucas Premiere ADV, Lucas Puig’s signature shoe. One of the most celebrated technical street skaters today, the Lucas Premiere ADV is built to complement the athleticism and agility of Lucas Puig accented with superior style for downtime off the board. Staying true to his European roots, Lucas worked hand-in-hand with the Adidas team, keeping the shoe light but adding a woven tongue and quarter panel with perforated sued for breathable durability, and as an added bonus, an adiTUFF reinforced toe for extra protection. Look as good as Puig on and off the board and pick up a pair of these at specialty U.S. retailers or online at www.adidas.com.
RED WHITE AND BILLABONG
USA BABY, WOO! In celebration of the 4th of July, and America, and Nascar, and Merle Haggard, and Randy Johnson, and democracy and everything else great about the U.S., Billabong is excited to release their ‘Merica Collection. Being American is pretty fucking tight, and July, like every other month, is a great time to show off your support of that red, white and blue. What better way to represent our nation’s colors than wear the colors? Fly the flag today by shopping Billabong’s vast 80+-piece collection of various hats, shorts, board shorts, tees, tanks, and socks all found in stores and online!
DUSTERS SKATEBOARDS – CALIFORNIA LOCOS
It’s all about the art these days, and it seems that everybody is taking notice. Not missing a beat, Dusters Skateboards has just released their newest five-board collaboration, titled California Locos, featuring five pioneering Los Angeles artists whose roots are steeped in graffiti, surf, skate, punk rock and contemporary art. Chaz Bojorquez, Dave Tourje, John Van Hamersveld, Norton Wisdom and Gary Wong are the California Locos, representing 50 years of Los Angeles art. Available at finer retailers and online at dusterscalifornia.com, get yours today and cruise in style on a fine piece of art.
ETNIES X GRIZZLY
Two of our favorites, etnies and Grizzly, have come together to celebrate the summer of 2016 with a capsule collaboration that we’re dying to get our hands on. Inspired by a “day in the life” of Chris Joslin, the collection is the essentials for any and every hardcore skater and consists of three separate shoes (Scout XT, Scout, and Marana OG), co-branded grip and a plethora of co-branded apparel pieces for any occasion. It’s everything Joslin could need to withstand the brutality of his skate life.
22
DC & BRUCE IRONS
There have been quite a few Bruce Irons sightings around the neighborhood now that Bruce and Logan Dulien have teamed up and are in the process of making their newest surf flick, Snapt 3. Bruce seems refreshed, recharged and is surfing better than ever. Taking notice, DC Shoes just announced the resigning of Bruce to their stellar surf team. Bruce has been with the DC family since the late ‘90s and feels right at home leading the DC surf team to its #LegendaryFuture. Be sure to keep your eyes and ears open, as big things are to come.
COALATREE COMEBACK
Our Colorado favorite, Coalatree Organica, is coming back in full force as CoFounder Charlie Bessey has recently acquired majority ownership of the company he helped start nearly six years ago. His first order of business was to launch a great line of packable summer items – and he’s done just that. Latest to their ever-growing lineup are The Kachula – a dual-use travel blanket/pillow, Nomad packable duffle bag, and our favorites, the Grand View and Loafer Hammocks. This eco-friendly, earth-conscious company has been doing great things from the get-go, so don’t you think for a minute they’re gonna slow down. Charlie assures us the organic farm is in full swing and is pumping out plenty of new, must-have goods for the rest of 2016. See what this brand is all about by clicking on over to coalatree.com and see all of their initiatives.
VANS US OPEN OF SURFING COLLECTION
It’s just about that time of the year again for Huntington Beach’s biggest surfing endeavor, the US Open of Surfing presented by Vans. In celebration for the weeklong contests of surf, skate and BMX, Vans is proud to present a collection of footwear pieces in honor of the event. The US Open of Surfing Collection calls upon some of the California brand’s most beloved silhouettes, tapping the Authentic, Classic Slip-On, Old Skool and Sk8-Hi alike, while implementing palm trees and checkered patterns with bold suede all stitched up with the Open’s ubiquitous logo. The Open starts this month from July 23rd to July 31st, and if you don’t live within a 30-mile radius start making plans to visit the event today. And for Pete’s sakes, buy some of these shoes available now at vans.com while you’re at it!
WATERMAN’S PACK
Like a trunk club for watermen, the Waterman’s Pack will show up at your doorstep every other month, chock-full of goodies you need to be the ultimate waterman. Cofounded by arguably the truest waterman alive, Mark Healy, each package or “pack” contains $100+ worth of water-related gear and lifestyles items, hand-picked by the curators and benefits a featured non-profit. Past curators include Mark Healey, Jamie Mitchel and Kai Lenny, so you know you’re getting exactly what you need. It’s a winwin-win for all, and with several options to choose from they got you covered. Check out all the gory details at www.watermanspack.com.
LINKSOUL DAVE NELLY BOARDSHORT
Linksoul, at its true heart and core, is a golf brand ran by a couple of good blokes that were ingenious enough to know that a good brand shouldn’t just have their hands dipped in a single lifestyle. Initially, when we found out about Linksoul, we were suspect to take fashion advice from a bunch of golfers, but these dudes actually have it pretty dialed, as they incorporate a lot of strong collaborations with various established artists in their collections. The apparel piece that got us pumped was a boardshort Linksoul did with legendary surf photographer and one of our closes friends Dave Nelson, or Nelly, as everyone calls him. The Nelly features a quick drying four-way stretch color blocked boardshort, featuring actual photos from our beloved Santa Cruz photographer. Find and shop The Nelly boardshort at www. linksoul.com today.
24
Tatiana Weston Webb #GoTati
left to right • 805 Beer, 805 Blonde Ale Six Pack - $8.99, 805beer.com • Active, Figgy Flannel - $49.99, activerideshop.com • Aluminati Skateboards, 4th With it (complete) - $109.99, aluminatiboards.com • ArtLife Clothing, Sharkbusters Snapback - $28, artlifeisgood.com • DVS Shoes, Rincon - $22, dvsshoes.com • etnies, Jameson SL - $64.99, etnies.com • Hurley, Phantom JJF II Elite “Palms” - $150, hurley.com • Lira Clothing, Hunter - $90, liraclothing.com • ourCaste, Lewis Duffle Bag - $88, ourCaste.com • Quiksilver, 4th of Ju-Luau - $55, quiksilver.com • Roark, Saigon Special - $45, roark.com • RVCA, Cooked Tote - $50, rvca.com • Billabong, Revolution Shifty 2MM Reversible Wetsuit Jacket $79.95, billabong.com • Vestal, Brig Tide & Train by Jordy Smith - $140, vestalwatch.com • Volcom, Mod Tech Surf Bag - $130, volcom.com • Von Zipper, The Banner - $150, vonzipper.com
26
IN STYLE WITH ALSTYLE
photos • gianfranco gorgoni • courtesy of art production fund and nevada museum of art.
check out
Across the desert south of Las Vegas, Nevada, rises a large, colorful anomaly. Seven colossal stone forms defy gravity with their formations. The shapes, reminiscent of naturally occurring hoodoos, seem poised between monumentality and collapse. The mammoth contemporary cairns created by internationally-renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone evoke the art of meditative rock balancing, and mark his place in the history of Land Art. Art Production Fund and Nevada Museum of Art present Seven Magic Mountains, a large-scale, site-specific public artwork by Rondinone that has been nearly five years in the making. The installation, comprised of seven individual towering sculptures, is situated on the far southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard along Interstate 15, approximately a half hour from downtown Las Vegas. Positioned within 36 28
the Ivanpah Valley and surrounded by mountains, the piece will be on view for two years beginning May 11, 2016. Mediating between geological formations and abstract compositions, Rondinone’s Seven Magic Mountains consists of locally sourced limestone boulders stacked vertically in groups ranging between three and six. Each stone boasts a different fluorescent color; each individual totem stands between 30 and 35 feet high. The artwork extends Rondinone’s longrunning interest in natural phenomena and their reformulation in art. The titles and forms of his paintings and sculptures have frequently evoked primordial phenomena such as air, moons, the sun, and the cosmos. Referring concurrently to the natural world, romanticism, and existentialism, Seven Magic Mountains encapsulates
a sort of mental trinity that has underpinned the artist’s work for more than two decades. In a new iteration of themes and materials, Seven Magic Mountains creates a sense of romantic minimalism. “Seven Magic Mountains elicits continuities and solidarities between human and nature, artificial and natural, then and now,” states Rondinone. Located a short distance from Nevada’s legendary Jean Dry Lake where Jean Tinguely and Michael Heizer created significant sculptures, Seven Magic Mountains is one of the largest landbased art installations in the United States completed in over 40 years. The work pays homage to the history of Land Art while also offering a contemporary critique of the simulacra in nearby Las Vegas. “Seven Magic Mountains is an
internationally significant sculptural installation that helps open the door in Nevada to future large-scale, land-based art projects,” said David B. Walker, Nevada Museum of Art executive director and CEO. Added Art Production Fund co-founders Doreen Remen and Yvonne Force Villareal, “Its location on the active Interstate 15 is especially exciting. Approximately 16 million vehicles will pass the work over its two year installation, making it one of the most visible works in the history of Land Art.” Seven Magic Mountains is produced by Art Production Fund, New York and Nevada Museum of Art, Reno. Located approximately 10 miles south of the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway in Henderson, Nevada, the two-year installation will be until May of 2018. Big thank you to Art Production Fund (www. artproductionfund.org) and Nevada Museum of Art (nevadaart.org).
Live | Travel | Surf
eidonsurf.com
interview • liz rice mccray
check out
This month we caught up with artist Frances Goodman to ask her a couple questions about her artwork. Thank you, Frances, for taking the time to speak with us. We are look forward to checking out your solo show in November. When asked, “What do you do?” how do you answer? Sometimes I tell people I’m a cold-hearted feminist, but mostly I quietly say I’m an artist. I don’t like to announce it loudly because the answer is often followed by a barrage of questions: “What kind of artist? Can you paint me? Do you work with marble or clay? What is your real job?” It takes time to explain to people I make sculptures with false nails and other beauty items, and when I do I often see a look of bafflement on their faces. I prefer it when people see my work and ask questions afterwards or when they stumble upon it and are intrigued
36 30
enough to ask me about it. It fits with how I want I my work to be received by others. Well I’m glad to have stumbled upon your art and I’m intrigued. Your working practice includes installation, photography, sculpture and sound installations. You have your hands in many mediums, so how do you put to words your wellrounded past and art? I want to explore and highlight certain topics around femininity and desire in my work, so I usually research my conceptual idea and use a medium or process that illustrates or reveals the concept. So I am not married to specific materials or processes; I’m always thinking about new ways to work with ideas. Sometimes different mediums fit better and sometimes I want to challenge myself and my audience with a new way of working or approaching a subject.
Will you please further explain some of your interests and consistent influences? Women, ideals of beauty and success, class, consumerism and desire and their points of collision in our everyday life – not only the collision itself but the repercussions and effect on people. We live in a society bombarded by the media that continuously sells the dream; it coaxes us to desire what we don’t have and what we are not. This culture of aspiration fascinates and horrifies me and I want to encourage people to think about it and question it. So tell us where do you call home? I live in Johannesburg, South Africa. Can you give us a little info on what you are currently working on? I am working towards a new solo exhibition in November, so I am making a number of new pieces, exploring new themes. At the moment I am making
work around the throat, the feminine voice and various metaphors that relate to sexuality and the throat. Tell us about some of your projects you’ve felt most excited about. When I am submerged in a new project I am generally very excited about it and fully engaged with it. But two of my favorite bodies of work are the installation called “The Dream” and my Vajazzling series. I feel both are successful as they hit a nerve with women and got them talking about issues that are important to me — women’s perceptions of their bodies, which are generally informed by the media; and the pressure women feel to get married. Please stay in touch we really enjoyed interviewing you. Can you tell us where we can check out more of your art? The best place to go is my website, www.francesgoodman.com.
check out
My studies are focused on reconstructing and deforming the bodies by either altering the physical conditions in which the entity exists, and/or treating them as test subjects for virtual experiments while reshaping the systems we now have and thus documenting the evolvement in time. The form of the bodies, the organs, the skeletal and the muscular system we and other living forms have in
36 32
common is in a relationship with the environmental conditions by which we are surrounded. We are surrounded by physical impacts to which we are already adapted, like gravity, pressure or temperature. As method, I am willing to observe and document the deformation of bodily forms while these forces are being altered as one method. As for another method, which is close to the conditions of physical abnormality, I am trying to observe
how the surface anatomy will react, resist and reshape while the inner systems – muscular, skeletal, tissue, etc. – are behaving differently from the way they are accustomed to.
neck area, resulting in portraits. My endeavor is not only to document the physical changes but also to capture the emotional state of the subjects under various conditions.
Also “Above the Clavicle: Works on Bodily Forms I” is the first part of my observation of bodily forms concentrating mostly on the human surface anatomy of the head and
Can Pekdemir, born in 1982, works and lives in Istanbul and is represented by The Empire Project Gallery. Make sure to check out more of his works at www.can-pekdemir.com.
."%& '30. 4,"5&#0"3% %&$,4 -BHVOB t 4BO $MFNFOUF t "VTUJO
4BOPT&ZFXFBS DPN
The Fall 2016 Collection The Lost Coast
@ourCaste #goodsforlife
Creating functional product with a well designed aesthetic, VXSSRUWLQJ DQ RXWGRRU OLIHVW\OH RI VXUıQJ VNDWLQJ DQG PRWRUF\FOHV
© 2013 www.ourcaste.com
photography • dominic petruzzi • @dominicpetruzzi model • michelle randolph • @michellerandolph • wilhelmina la hair & makeup • @bethcartermua
36
griffin colapinto
photos • zac milan Poseidon has struck down his triton yet again at this year’s Volcom 2016 Totally Crustaceous Tour World Championships. With the venue set at Lower Trestles, the “God of The Sea” blessed competitors with great conditions and brilliant surf, with 6-foot perfection awaiting for the final day of competition. And like TCT World Championships of years past, there was nonstop action in and out of the water. The MCs had the beach’s attention and no one could believe how perfect the waves were at California’s most coveted surf venue. And competitors took full advantage of the empty lineup and showed the crowd, and everyone out there tuned into the webcast, that today’s youth is absolutely blowing minds. The first final to take to the water on the fourth and final day of competition was the Girls Division, where Hawaii’s Brissa Hennessey took top honors ousting fellow stateswoman Summer Macedo (2nd) and Kahuna Delovio (3rd), followed by San Diego’s own Alyssa Spencer (4th). Next in the water was the Squids Division, where Kai Martin stole the show with a heat total exceeding 17 out of a possible 20 points. Rounding out the final were fellow in-form competitors Kobi Clements (2nd), Hayden Rodgers (3rd) and Joao Mendoca (4th). The swell was really starting to peak as the Grom Division took to the water, and I just can’t believe how well these young guys are ripping. It was no surprise to see San Clemente’s Kade Matson sitting atop the podium once all the spray settled. Taking second and third place were Hawaii’s Eli Hanneman and Robert Grillo, respectively, while Japan’s Arashi Murata took home a healthy check with the 4th place finish. The wind started to show its teeth as the Junior Division Final took to the water, but the perfection that is
Lowers just made for some highly rippable action. The Brazilian mini-storm Samuel Pupo seemed unstoppable as he blasted his way to an over-sized $4000 check and the victory. San Diego’s Jake Marshall was a close second coming within 1-point of stealing top honors from Pupo. Kei Kobayashi and Jordy Collins rounded out the final with third and forth, respectively, as all competitors absolutely ripped it to pieces. And on we go the main event… The ProAms Division was absolutely packed, and from the get-go it was SoCal’s Griffin Colapinto, who was still riding the high from a recent win in Cabo, who seemed to be the in-form competitor. It seemed like the entire event he was in-touch with Mother Ocean and doing everything right, as Griffin was able to put together the highest final heat total for the entire event, a 19.66. HB local Matt Passaquindici was another standout, absolutely tearing Lowers rights to pieces. His efforts didn’t leave him empty handed, as he walked away with an oversized check and second-place overall finish. Third went to Brazil’s Wesley Dantas and fourth to Jake Kelly. It was another incredible event with some unbelievable surf and even more unbelievable surfing. The boys and girls at Volcom sure know how to do it right, as many competitors were overheard saying this is their favorite event of the entire year. And if you missed it, don’t worry, the action will start back up again in no time, as Volcom’s Totally Crustaceous Tour is coming to beach near you soon.
matt passaquindici
jake kelley
kain daly
victor bernardo
griffin colapinto
chauncy robinson
interview • liz rice mccray This month we caught up with artist Scott Scheidly and asked him a couple of questions about crayons, childhood and life. Make sure to check out more of his art at www.flounderart.com. So tell us, how do you feel about the taste of crayons? Better than the taste that politics leaves in my mouth. Haha, well staying away from politics, would you say your childhood ambition was to be an artist? I’m not sure if my childhood ambition was to be an artist but I think it was predetermined by the universe. Tell us about the subjects of your paintings. My subject matter is based on characters that are either powerful, evil or downright badass. Are all your portraits framed in pink? Why pink? All of the “pink” series is framed in pink. It was part of the whole idea of gaudiness and the frames are a big part of the art itself. Tell us about your new work. The “pinks” focuses on the exploration of color theory in order to question the
40
notions of perception and representation. I focus on the notions of sexual identity and, especially, masculinity. The contextual level of artwork reflects the ways in which popular culture forms the imagery of preconceptions of color... or some shit like that. What kind of art do you like? Do you collect anything in particular? I’m a surrealist at heart – the stranger the better, and that goes with everything in my life. If you were not a painter, what do you think you would be doing? I think I’d be a multidimensional, nondenominational hedonist. Or am I already that? When it’s all said and done, how would you like to be remembered? In all honesty I really don’t care if I’m remembered. I don’t understand why people are worried about being remembered or leaving legacy. Just do your time then move on. Where can people check out more of your art? On Instagram: @scott_scheidly, my website www.flounderart.com, and on my Facebook page.
words • patrick do What happens when you don’t make the high school baseball team? For Luke, he decided with his free time to just be a kid and hang out with his neighborhood friends. From there they began skating together, and it wasn’t until he was introduced to a little handy cam from his good friend Jett that he realized he didn’t want to be the best skater out there. So instead he started engaging more with film work and editing videos. Luke’s attitude since then has never changed. He’s always the first one to wake up and get the day lined up with the spots. He never complains about how far a spot is or how long the skate session lasts because that is truly where he would rather be. The difference now is that he will take photos as well as film a trick. Luke really is a one-man band, jumping back and forth from filming and setting up his flashes for photos. His hard work landed him an internship at The Berrics, editing videos and taking photos for The Skateboard Mag. When not at The Berrics or out skating, he’s working his other job at In-N-Out Burger. Luke is always on the move and never has a dull moment. He’s really the best guy to go out and skate with because as a skater he understands the fight to land a trick, and he doesn’t mind staying hours or even going back to a spot just to get the clip.
tyler veloz • gap to lipslide
abner jacques • nosegrind
42
jamie foy • f.s board pop over
josh gomez • smith
tony juarez • lipslide lance mountain • f.s indy
nate gavin • kicklip b.s tailslide
aaron kim • frontside hurricane
mikey whitehouse • f.s noseblunt
joey larock • nosegrind ledge into roof
words & photos • tom carey
Checking the wedge from two thousand feet above can be a bit deceiving. We couldn’t tell if it was 1 foot or 6 feet from that vantage point. The Caribbean island we were scouring jetted up from the Atlantic Ocean like a volcano. The four-cylinder death box we were driving hardly made it down the hill to the wave without sliding down the hill and into a ravine. I was praying the waves were pumping so the dirt would have time to dry out before we attempted our escape. As we popped our heads out of the bush we knew we hit the jackpot. Six-foot teepees grinded off the headland, sending spray dozens of feet high in a sort of celebratory fashion. That spot check had sure thrown us off. Those tiny wedges were in fact standup tubes. Lesson learned. I felt like Beavis and Butthead finally. “We’re gonna score!”
dylan graves
46
dane gudauskas
wade goodall
dane gudauskas
wade goodall
I had gotten a call about two days before that: “Be ready,” Dylan Graves told me. Forecasting in the Caribbean can be tough. I sure as hell couldn’t read a swell report over there to save my life. I was at their mercy and that was cool with me. Once I had the green light I could hardly contain myself. I was finally going to a new spot and to an island I’d been dreaming of for the past five years. The crew was top notch as well: Dylan Graves, Dane Gudauskas, Wade Goodall, and Van’s filmers Reagan Ritchie and Daniel Russo. Shit, we could get skunked and I knew we’d still have a good time. I was excited to say the least. So I jumped on a last-minute flight to Puerto Rico where I was to meet up with my new cohorts and puddle jump over to our destination. I’m not sure if we were really early or if it was standard practice not to stamp my passport or check me through customs but I literally grabbed my bags and walked right out of the airport. It was the most carefree immigration process ever. I guess I was on island time now. The 20 hours of travel and lack of sleep were an afterthought in my mind now as I hurried to organize my camera gear and jump into the crystal blue water. The Caribbean has the sort of watercolor you can only dream about. It’s the color you’d imagine in children’s books or travel magazines. Rarely does one get to surf in these conditions.
It didn’t take long to realize the power this wave had to offer. Dane had already broken a board in the first hour and it quickly became evident that getting the missing board bags was going to be a priority. There was some power behind these waves and when you try to stomp airs on waves like these, surfboards tend to die. All in all, I think we lost two boards that first day. With one day of solid surf in the bag, we started exploring to see what the place had in store for us. Usually a tiny island like that has one or two waves. We couldn’t believe it when we saw about eight different waves starting to work. We had scored the first day and now had a few days before the brunt of the swell came in. It was now time to hit the rum. Our hotel was sort of a mix between someone’s house, a bar, a pool and a tiny motel in Middle America. The people that occupied its bar stools or slaved behind it were classic to say the least. They seemed to not have a care in the world, but boy could they make a good drink. I’m not one for fancy drinks, but the piña coladas were out of this world. All morning the bartender would perfect his coconut milk from scratch. It was the perfect drink to cool you off, kill your
dylan graves
wade goodall
dane gudauskas
dylan graves
heartburn from the Cajun food and get you twisted all at the same time. Live music was also on tap some nights – and I’m not talking any old crap, but some of the best guitar playing I’ve ever heard from a single person outside of a major venue. I had died and gone on permanent vacation. I started thinking about if I could live here full time… or at least in the winter. How hard would it be to get a visa for six months and relocate the family? I was that psyched on my newfound slice of heaven.
wade goodall
The flight from Puerto Rico to our island paradise had left us with two missing board bags. Dylan could sense the airline’s lack of concern for us and decided to fly back and physically put the boards on the plane himself. The employees were shocked when they saw him and finally realized he meant business. They were used to gringos on vacation flying with surfboards. They didn’t care. But Dylan was all business and once they heard his fluent Spanish come out of his mouth they changed their tune. These boards were making it one way or another.
As Dylan searched for the boards we jumped on a catamaran and searched the island for some hidden gems. The swell was bombing and we marked some new spots but the wind was wrong. So we kept sailing, opting to surf some of the more known waves. After two more days of scoring we were keen to jump off the boat and get back to our hotel paradise and straight into some more stiff drinks. It felt like we didn’t miss a beat. The last few days were spent shredding some more playful setups that the island was hiding. The only thing the island was lacking were crowds. Not too many local surfers inhabited the island. That’s hard to find these days. By the fifth day we were ready to head home. We had scored. It was a successful strike mission. I could finally check that spot off the bucket list.
dylan graves
interview • liz rice mccray This month we had the pleasure of interviewing Sean Yoro, A.K.A. “The Hula,” for our cover feature. Images of The Hula painting while standing on a SUP board swept the wild wild web, as it was something we had not seen before. Fast-forward to today... The Hula travels the world creating paintings that capture interactions between figures and the environment in abandoned/remote places. In The Hula’s water series you see paintings of beautiful women, half submerged, hiding, floating, interacting with the water and their reflections, creating a semi-transparent, mirrored, multidimensional piece of art. All of The Hula’s outdoor murals are painted with non-toxic, environmentally conscious paint. Make sure to check out more of The Hula’s art on his website, byhula.com, or Instagram @ The_Hula. Will you give us a run down of 2015-2016, the highlights if you will? I started off 2015 by painting abandoned water structures on my own, experimenting with different techniques. From there, I began traveling abroad with bigger projects, like Iceland to paint an iceberg. I also got to work with different street art festivals from New Zealand, Hawaii, Florida and New York. Where are you right now? If it is undisclosed, can you please describe the environment you are in? I am currently in Cannes, France, on a project with Facebook/IG where we are setting up an installation painting for their weeklong festival. Although not a normal project for me, I feel very fortunate to travel and work with such great brands nowadays. Environment and the role of nature plays a major part in your paintings: bathing beauties interacting with the water, half submerged, hiding, floating, in unknown waters and on glaciers. Will you tell us a little about your relationship with nature, water and women? Growing up in Hawaii I learned the importance of appreciating my environment, especially the ocean. I took this value into my art, both figuratively and literally, with my murals along the water. I always have my paintings interacting with the surrounding elements because that is how I felt as a child in paradise, always looking for new ways to explore the unknown. I have always been drawn to paint women, especially out in nature because of the balance I feel they give to atmospheres, which are usually abandoned and melancholy. Who are these beautiful women in your murals? Most of my subjects are friends and I always enjoy collaborating with unique people to create paintings that have a touch of their own personality to it as well as the messages I originally had for the piece. I like to keep my painting process organic and relying on the interaction with subjects. Images of you painting while standing on a SUP board swept the wild wild web. It was something no one had seen before, and you were informally nicknamed the “stand-up paddleboard artist.” How and when did you think of painting murals on a SUP? What were your thoughts when you saw your paintings surfing the web? I started conceptualizing the idea back in December 2014, first with the idea to paint figures along ocean walls. It was a very tricky concept as there were so many variables that I had to solve on my own. I experimented endlessly that spring and finally was able to successfully paint a mural. The idea to use my stand-up paddleboard to paint them felt very natural since I grew up on a surfboard. It was surreal to see the amount of people who instantly connected with my paintings. I have always painted things I purely just want to see created and feel the amount of new support for my visions fueled my passion even more.
52
You are originally from the east side of Oahu; will you tell us a little about your youth? Yes, Kahalu’u to be exact. I grew up in a family full of surfers, so naturally my first passion was being in the ocean riding waves. With surfing keeping me distracted, I was never really into art until my late teenage years when I dipped into graffiti and later tattooing. I instantly had a passion to create but didn’t find painting until college when I stumbled into a painting class at a small community college. How did you end up in NYC? How was your acclimation from Oahu to NYC? I knew I wanted to get off the island to pursue painting, mostly because I felt too comfortable living in paradise and needed to test myself against the odds. I decided on New York because as cliché as it is, the phrase “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere” really stuck with me. I didn’t want it to be lucky if I made a career as an artist; I wanted to earn the gift. Do you source seaside and river locations in New York? Although I can’t be too specific with locations, since usually they are “unsanctioned,” I will say I scout a lot along the east and west coasts of the U.S., especially in abandoned/remote places. I have always felt comfortable being alone and off the grid with these murals. Your murals are highly complemented by the surface on which you create them; the texture always seems to be complementary to the female and her features. What is the process you use to conceptualize a piece, refine it, “test” it, etc.? Do you get part of the way through a painting and discover, “this is not working?” With every piece there are so many variables you can’t control being out in nature (especially in the ocean), so there have been many paintings that haven’t worked out. Rather than trying to control everything, I have learned to refine my process to be as organic as possible and let go of what I need. As with anything, practice makes perfect and I have had much higher success rates with projects now than when I first started. I am always initially inspired to create a piece with some kind of idea or message I feel is worth putting into paint. Most messages are subtle and show the
values of connecting with your environment differently. I have also spoke on Climate Change and the urgency to take action now. With every piece, I always make sure the “Why am I creating this?” is greater than the amount of risk and sacrifice that comes with it. Have you ever had to walk away from a piece because it wasn’t working? Many times… well, paddled away to be exact. The concept along the water brought so many new variables I never had to deal with in art, but slowly I learned to refine my process and hone the skills needed for it. I just feel fortunate to survive the failures and see the concept form into the success it now is. What’s coming up next for you? Although I can’t disclose a lot of details on future projects, I will say I am working on much larger scales, both in the physical size of paintings as well as the platforms they will be on. I will be doing more pieces on Climate Change as well, because I feel it’s an issue that still needs a voice. Where can people check out more of your art? Most of my projects I can’t disclose exact locations for legal reasons, but I will be doing more art festivals like POW! WOW! Long Beach and around the world where people could watch my whole process. I will be announcing different projects once able through my social media accounts.
ETNIES X GRIZZLY COLLABORATION
SCOUT XT x GRIZZLY
EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AT etnies.com
|
@etniesskateboarding
photos & interview • luke lutz
What’s your name, how old are you and where did you grow up? My name is Patrick Do, I am 20 years of age and I grew up in Orange County, California. When did you get your first skateboard and how old were you? Maybe 3 or 4 years old, pretty early. My dad got me one of those old crappy Wal-Mart boards and it didn’t even have griptape. No griptape, just straight up wood? (laughs) There was grip but it was like, kinda clear, see-through, sprayed on. Plastic trucks and plastic wheels, all that good stuff. Who are some dudes that you usually skate with? I usually go out skating, oh with you, Luke Lutz the filmer. He’s a pretty alright guy, I guess. Aaron Kim, Danny Corral. What else do you do besides skateboarding? I’m a sophomore at Cal State Fullerton right now and I’ve been shooting photos for the school paper over there. If you had to pick one fast food place to eat for the rest of your life, what would you pick and why? (laughs) I’d probably pick... (thinking)... Chick-fil-A! Because their sweet tea is the goods. Straight from Alabama. So you pick Chick-fil-A because of their tea and not their food? Yeah their sweet tea is delicious, I mean the chicken’s a plus. Who is your favorite skater right now and why? Sammy Montano, because he’s the homie and his part from the Doom Sayers and SML video were sick. He gets me hyped up to skate. What kind of music are you into? I’m more into Lo-Fi music right now, maybe more relaxing, like Explosions In The Sky or Tomorrow Tulips, kinda just get lost in it.
f.s feeble • la habra
60
roll in 5050 • fullerton
5-0 • fullerton
Lost in the sauce? No Gucci Mane? (laughs) We’ll have a little Gucci every now and then I guess... BRR! Donald Trump? (laughs) I don’t want to talk about politics. If you had a chance to skate with one pro skater, whom would you skate with? Heath Kirchart. I just want to see him try shit and maybe fall all gnarly. That will probably get me hyped up to skate. He’s one of my favorites. VX or HD? You already know the answer (laughs). Tupac or Biggie? Ah man. I like Biggie more. If you were stranded on an island and you could only bring three items, what would you bring with you? Can it be my dog? I’ll bring my dog Diana. Um, man I don’t know (laughs). overcrook • long beach
KBBQ? I love it. Bulgogi. That’s the main meat you
need. And if you go less than 10 rounds, you’re not a man. How long have you been sober? (laughs) I don’t drink or do drugs. I kinda just drink water. I don’t roll chops but I go to the Chop House. Shout out Bony! What’s the Chop House? That’s the homie Bony’s house. He’s like OG, about to turn 30 and he’s still out filming with us, HD and VX, you know. He takes us to cool spots, that’s what matters. One-Eight. It’s One-Eight, that’s what the Chop House is. Film photography? Personally I shoot film photography. I just got into black and white. I like it; you shoot and kind of forget about it. You’re not stuck on it for too long. How do you feel about Snapchat? Snapchat’s cool, I back it. See what your friends are doing and where they’re at without you (laughs).
words & photos • ben gavelda The smell of warm chicken stew fills the air, and the taste of hops is pungent with each sip of beer. A fire crackles in the corner and steam wafts from the bowls of soup in our laps. Snow falls outside in the darkness, turning the slushy, muddy ground into a clean white carpet. Sierra, one half of the group CocoRosie, hums melodies from the loft above. Huddled inside the tiny home we could be
64
anywhere, a remote location way out in British Columbia or Wyoming or Montana. But this tiny cabin is on wheels and we’re stationed right in the parking lot at the base of Mount Baker in Washington, only a stone’s throw from the bathroom might we add. The images in the pages ahead are from a road trip from Baker to snowboarding guru Mike Basich’s new
farm home outside of Lake Tahoe, California. Mikey, his fiancé Sierra Casady, 241 Outerwear team rider Shin Buyajima and I posted up in his homemade tiny home during the 2016 Mount Baker Legendary Banked Slalom. It had been a number of years since I spent time with Basich, and it had been a number of years since he’d been to Baker and the Banked Slalom. Presented with an onslaught of storms
meant we split time between racing and indulging in that classic Mt. Baker powder. Basich is a man who speaks through his hands and this cabin on wheels is only one of his many fabrications. Others include a custom Dodge Ram 2500 camper with hydraulic lifting snowmobile deck, an off-grid cabin in the Tahoe backcountry, a private
chairlift, a small farm property with two houses he’s currently remodeling, and a shop yard full of many other parts, pieces, and components waiting to be turned into an ingenuitive tool or toy or both. At the core of Basich is a DIY ethos that began in his snowboarding career as he pioneered selfphotography and videography long before a GoPro even existed. This act of documentation led Basich on a path of chasing snow and finding methods to make the hunt more efficient,
whether it was living in a U-Haul trailer for a month in Alaska or following storms all winter in a van, while also living out of that, too. Worn from years on the road, Basich sought to slow things down yet still keep an intimate relationship with winter by remaining as close as possible. So he embarked on an eightyear project to construct an off-grid cabin near Donner Pass, California. The cabin serves as a reserve with
a private powder stash, and he just updated it with a repurposed twochair chairlift that serves up a couple hundred feet of vertical and operates on an old Volkswagen gas motor. After so many quick strike missions, Basich also found value in taking time on the road and enjoying places he’d usually fly right by, so he sought a solution with a tiny home. By scrapping together various bits
of materials, including a classic Wedgewood range and egg-shaped stove, he soon had a low-budget, rustic chalet on wheels. The back door and wall was made to swing open and the floor plan is open, allowing for snowmobile parking with the idea of leaving the whole rig up in AK or anywhere one day. And this brings us to where we are now, enjoying the fruits of Basich’s labor in a snowy parking lot near the U.S.-Canadian border. Enjoy.
words • paul zitzer
In its 16-year history, the Damn Am has become the one amateur skate contest series in the world that really matters. As the qualifying series for Tampa Am and the SLS Pro Open, if no-name-Joe from Wichita does well enough he just might be on his way to becoming Joe-the-Pro, living in the Hollywood Hills – not that it’s easy though. Over the weekend of June 10th, 115 of the absolute best am skaters from all over North and South America were in Costa Mesa to chop it up at Volcom HQ for the third Damn Am of the year. The skatepark inside the Volcom warehouse is a perfect blend of cement transition and the usual street stuff: rails, stairs, benches, etc. But it’s not the biggest park on Earth so there were times when more people were crashing into each other than making tricks. But after two days of qualifying and semi-finals, the top 12 had the place all to themselves for the Finals.
events
The judges could have given any one of the top few guys the win. Wacson Mass from Sao Paulo Brazil was last year’s champ. He’s got the best hair anywhere he goes, and everything about his skating is solid gold – he finished 3rd. Zion Wright out of Tampa, FL, is all power and pop and stoke, and he earned second place this year. And after skating in Damn Ams for the last seven years, Alex Midler from Calabasas, CA, got his first-ever win with great use of the course mixed with an amazing bag of tricks. You name it he did it: kickflip back lips on the rail, backside flips over the hip, and front boards up the escalator. Midler is now prequalified to the semi-finals at Tampa Am November 10-13. From there who knows… the Hollywood Hills maybe? Photos: Chris Ortiz & Bart Jones • clockwise from top left • Alex Midler • Damn Am Finalist & Contest Announcers • Maurice Jordan (Best Trick Winner) • Wacson Mass • Tyson Petersen • Blake Johnson • Robert Neal • Danny Gordon • Chase Webb • Zion Wright
36 68
ACTIVE TEAM RIDER: MIKAYLA SHEPPARD
ACTIVERIDESHOP.COM | @ACTIVERSLADIES
The grand opening of The Board Club in Newport Beach’s Cannery Village kicked off Memorial Day weekend. Orange County’s newest surf club is adding a unique twist to the traditional surf club concept by offering unlimited access and exchanges to a huge variety of quality surfboards for all of its members. But the real benefit, as described by Dirty Old Wedge Director and Board Club member Tim Burnham, is that “The Board Club is bringing the local surfing community together through some amazing events and activities and provides a great place to chill with new and old friends.” The opening night certainly showcased that potential with over 300 people attending the party, including local industry icons like Jim Chalupnik of Pure Glass, Ty Peterson of Marko Foam, Surfer/Model Erica Hosseini, Surf Artists Rick Rietveld and Phil Roberts and a host of talented shapers.
events
When guests weren’t checking out the club’s brand new boards they were enjoying the delicious Mexican food provided by Wild Taco and live music by acoustic guitarist Kevin Miso. The back lot of The Board Club is impressively large with ample space for things like movie nights on the big screen projector, ding repair demos, surf fitness training and plenty of Member’s Only parking. For more information about membership at The Board Club, check out the website www. newportboardclub.com or stop by to meet local surfer/lifeguard and founder Peter Belden for a tour of the clubhouse.
Clockwise from top left • Over 100 boards for members to pick off the rack • Front of the clubhouse • Sample of boards by Almond, Estrada, Dano and Album • Cordell Miller, Ty Peterson, Peter Belden • Chris Conway with Ben Carlson’s last board. • Hayden Paul, Kyle Fults • Madilyn Christensen, Andrew Belden, Shaena Cushman, Stefanie Sitzer, Kyle Christensen • Anne Belden, Erica Hosseini, Ann Hosseini • Roger Baltierra, Bill Bissell • Rick Rietveld, Phil Roberts • Hanging out on the front porch • Members Only Dinner • Mark Cunningham & Peter Belden • Peter & The Board Club Cake
36 70
Australian born Sylvè Colless’ interest in photography began at a young age. She commenced studying architecture, and her studies of natural light sparked an interest in commercial photography. Her raw, candid fashion and beauty shots draw inspiration from film and art. Her work encompasses many visual mediums including advertising, film, web and fine art. After two standout solo exhibitions in Sydney and Melbourne last year, Sylvé Colless brought her incredible work to U.S. audiences for the first time last month at Slowculture Gallery in Los Angeles, presented by a Mild Manners residency.
events
This introspective body of work explores the concept of metamorphosis – the inexorable process of transformation that shapes body and mind. Building on her earlier exhibitions, this collection continues a line of inquiry into the ways that the dual influences of harmony and chaos profoundly shape our psyche and sense of individuality. Aurelia is synonymous with the butterfly chrysalis and also conjures ideas associated to gold. Process and change are the core of existence; with this comes renewal. This series looks into shared and solitary transformational human experience. Each image represents the flow of energy in the process of personal change, waves that permeate and ricochet – the body itself becomes a reflective surface. The language of light is central and the enduring impression carries the suggestion of enlightenment. ABOUT MILD MANNERS: Based in Sydney, Australia, Mild Manners is a transformative project art gallery exhibiting early to mid career artists. Passionate about showcasing alternative contemporary art from the fringes where artists, and the work they produce, often sit comfortably in the space between high and low culture groups. See more @mildmanners_ on Instagram or check out their website, www.mild-manners.com.
Photos: Delon & Taylor Rainbolt • clockwise from top left • Aurélia Collection • Slowculture gallery • Max, Fred, Steve (Slowculture) & Matt Rabbidge (MildManners) • Magdalena & Zach • Sylve Colless • Gallery birds • Smokers’ section • Detail of an Aurélia piece • Supporters • Andrea Desouto • Brad Gerlach & Jared Mell • Stylish youngsters • Gallery birds • Steve Olsen & Steve Lee
36 72
Just last month Vissla premiered its newest cinematic surfing thriller, Dream Steeple, at Huntington Beach’s hidden tiki dungeon, Don the Beachcomber, which is just a gem of a venue for a surf premiere. A combination of sweaty groms, twenty-somethings, and industry legends packed the venue, stoked and ready to watch the all-new surfing hit directed by surf/music/fashion auteur, Eddie Obrand. Vissla sure hit the nail on the head, selling what all we mouse-pushing desk jockeys wish we could embark on: the perfect dreamy surf trip, in the perfect van, with your closest buds, just ripping up fun waves. When we saw the tagline of the film suggested as a “surfing thriller,” we couldn’t help but believe at some point of the movie someone was going to get eatin’ by a shark or punched in the face with a starfish by someone in Hawaii (spoiler alert), but nothing of that sort ever happens. Dream Steeple is a vibey, aesthetically gorgeous film with innovative surfing and great music all scored by Kyle Woods.
events
As the cast of the film took to the big screen, you couldn’t help but realize how stacked, yet vastly diverse, the Vissla surf team has become. The film had all sorts of different types of surfing, intended to be appreciated by an equally diverse audience. Eric Geiselman and Brendon Gibbens put on countless aerial clinics, spinning this way and that way, while Bryce Young and Derrick Disney kept it cool and fresh with stylish dropped knees and elongated turns and cut backs. The film featured several other jack-of-all-trade surfers as well, all worth watching. As the lights came up after the viewing the crowd huddled closer and moved toward the stage for a live performance by the Mystic Braves. Drinks full, music vibing, and the crowd feeling the residue of stokes from the film, the venue turned into one huge party, with young, old and in-between enjoying it all the same. Photos: Linnea Stephan & Jason Naude • clockwise from top left • Mystic Braves • Vissla corporate crew & friends • Premiere babes • Adam & Chris from Swimm & Corban Campbell • Premiere babes • Glori, Edgar & Seth • Dream Steeple audience • Adrien, Donald Brink & Andrew Jacobson • Zion Wright, Noah Schweizer, Cal Saxton, Layne, Alex Midler, Cam Richards & Cody Simpson • Mystic Braves vs. crowd surfers • Eric Geiselman and Bree • Cameron & Brian • Vissla Japan • Ryan Spencer & Sandi
36 74
interview • max ritter l photo • danielle farrell
music
Catching up with LA-based singer/songwriting killer Pearl Charles! You have such a great name, it seems almost like you were born to be an artist. Is that your real name? How did you get into playing music and when did you know it was something you wanted to pursue? Yes, Pearl Charles is my real name! I always tell people when they ask me that question that my little sister’s name is Zelda, so I feel like she really got the weird one, haha. Both my parents are artists and they constantly encouraged my siblings and I to explore every creative medium so I always knew I’d end up pursuing something in the arts. I always gravitated towards music and performance, starting with musical theater at a young age, which eventually led to songwriting and playing in bands as a teenager. How would you describe your style to someone who hasn’t heard you before, and what are some of the things/artists that influenced that style? I feel like it can be difficult to categorize a lot of music made these days because we as artists have the ability to access inspiration from the past and present so easily and it all ends up soaking in to create something new entirely. Though I definitely love a lot of the music made in the ‘60s and ‘70s, I’m trying to focus less on era and genre and more on the timelessness of the songwriters I view as classic, many of whom like Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Gene Clark, just so happened to have had their heyday at that same time. There are a lot of talented contributors on your EP. Who all did you work with to make it come about? I recorded the EP at handful of different studios in Southern California and was so lucky to work with a variety of amazing collaborators. Matt Adams from The Blank Tapes, the band I played in before starting this project, was instrumental in playing, arranging and producing the bulk of the tracks, with Jordan Chini engineering and Lauren Barth on background vocals and bass, both of whom were original band members. We also worked with Joel Jerome of Dios, Taylor Locke of Rooney, Scott Kinnebrew of The Truth
36 76
& Salvage Company, Jonathan Tyler, who I have written some of my newer tracks with, and Farmer Dave Scher who has played with everyone from Jenny Lewis to Allah-Las to Cass McCombs. “Idea to Her” is the track on your EP that really hooked me. It is such a beautiful, mellow track. Can you tell me a little about it? What is that song about? Funny that you mention that track because it is the one song on the EP that I actually didn’t write! My buddy Joel Jerome called me out of the blue one day to see if I could come in to do some vocals on a track. I assumed it would just be some background stuff but when I got to the studio his friend Miguel Mendez was there and wanted to try out a female vocal on a song he had written. We knocked it out in a couple takes and we were all so happy with how it turned out I knew I had to include it on the release! Your voice seems like it’s very versatile/adaptable. Do you think you will explore some different genres/style or arrangements going forward? I’d like to think I’m exploring and pushing different boundaries with my new material, both in the musicianship and the writing. I feel like my vision as an artist has come more into focus for me as of late, having grown a lot as a songwriter and performer, and I’ve learned that letting go of rigid definitions and just allowing the songs to take me wherever they want to go, instead of trying to push them in any one direction, will allow me to produce the best results. You’re playing the Echoplex in LA this month, so can we expect to hear any new stuff? Have you been working on an album, and if so when will it be out? Yes! The set is pretty much exclusively new stuff now and most of what you will hear live will be going on my debut full-length album, which I will be recording this summer! Thanks Pearl! See Pearl Charles at The Echoplex in Los Angeles on July 17th. Her debut self-titled EP is available from Burger Records.
review & photo • max ritter
BRONCHO The Constellation Room at The Observatory Sunday June 5th, 2016 It was really fun finally getting to see BRONCHO. They opened with some new, brought it home with some old. Some smoke, some mirrors, it was magic. I am still trying to decipher what the lyrics are to some of my favorite BRONCHO songs and maybe you are too. I guess it’s a process. They have a great new record out called Double Vanity and they will be touring all summer long and coming back to California in August. Great band, go see ‘em! Underrated dot com.
reviews • max ritter The Strokes Future Past Present Cult Records I stayed up one night watching The Strokes headline The Governor’s Ball on the new Vice TV channel from my bed, which I thought was pretty good overall. I’m a Strokes fan but it was late, and I guess I got sucked into watching the whole set because I really wanted to see if they would play this song “OBLIVIUS” from their new EP. The guitar riffs are pretty mental and I was curious as to if they could actually pull those off live. They almost seem too fast and a little fake on the record; I definitely couldn’t play them. Can they really play that? Anyway, they didn’t play the song. I’ll probably never know. I was kind of bummed. They covered The Clash’s “Clampdown” though and that was really good.
Heartworn Highways V/A Light In The Attic Heartworn Highways documents “outlaw” country artists in 1976 who grew their hair long and became hard-partying renegades who refused to assimilate with all the sellouts in mainstream Nashville, making what would become the first forms of Keith Urban songs in response to declining country music record sales.
Natural Child Now and Then - Single Natural Child Records and Tapes Hindsight is 20/20 they say, and that’s what Natty Child’s new single is about. When you’ve been there and back you learn things like don’t pee in your wetsuit. Natural Child will have a new full-length entitled Okey Dokey releasing 9/16.
GOGGS Self-Titled In The Red Ty Segall + Charles Moonhart + Chris Shaw (Ex Cult). Throw in a saxophone here and there for good measure.
77
reviews • delon isaacs
Air Twentyears Aircheology/Parlophone Thank you baby Jesus, finally the first “best of” Air collection is here, and all the early hits are accounted for. Two decades of music from the French duo can now be found on one easy, accessible platform. Giving the collective an initial listen you can already pre-meditate what the first couple of songs on the album are going to be. The album in its entirety serves as a good collective piece for listeners who aren’t all super familiar but fucking should be. Waxahatchee Early Recordings Merge The texture of this lost and forgotten EP of Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield is amazing; it’s so fucking simple but so sweet. Early Recordings is a five-track album that was initially recorded onto cassette and only disbursed to friends and family. It wasn’t until only the other month that the cassette resurfaced and became accessible to listeners. This album reminded me of being 19 again and in love with all the DIY nonsense from Thee Oh Sees, Smith Westerns and Best Coast, where all the sounds are crackly, droned out and fantastically flat. Listening to the album is like going through old scrapbooks, where you blow the dust off the covers and look at old photos of yourself and remembering how much cooler you were as a teenager than now. Pick up this EP and take a stroll down memory lane. Psychic Ills Inner Journey Out Sacred Bones This is my favorite album to have come out last month. Inner Journey Out is the band’s highly anticipated fifth album and the latest one we’ve seen since 2013. Like a fine wine, the Psychic Ills 14-track LP is the culmination of an odyssey of three years of writing, traversing the psych-rock landscape they’ve carved throughout their career, and taking inspired pilgrimages into country, blues, gospel and jazz. If you have hours of excruciating errands, give this album a listen – you’ll realize everything really isn’t that bad.
Mourn Ha, Ha, He. Captured Tracks Mourn is the byproduct of four of the cutest teenagers to ever start a band, who hail from Catalonia, a place that I was convinced was just Catalina but spelt wrong. This album is pretty cool. It’s poppy and punk without being anywhere overdone or annoying. The melodies have catchy hooks, and words uttered in the songs reflect normal teenage distain of basic, boring everyday shit from kids who wish that they weren’t just kids. If you’re feelin’ angsty at all, or got to release some demons, pick up this album.
photo • alex baker
groms
Age: 12 Hometown: San Francisco, CA Sponsors: Gnarly Clothing, Electric & San Francisco Skate Club Favorite Rider: Forest Bailey
36 78
photo • liam annis
groms
Age: 17
Hometown: Portsmouth, NH
Sponsors: Flow DGK, Nike SB, Golds Wheels, Volcom, Stance Socks, Etnies, Raw New England and Eastern Boarder Nashua! Favorite Skaters: Dana Ericson, Brian Delaney, James Nickerson, Brian Reid, and Nickodem Rudzinski
36 80